Edge cutter attachment for sewing machines



June .15, 1948.

Filed March 13, 1946 A. ALIFANO ETAL 2,443,369

EDGE. CUTTER ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS ANTONIO ALIFANO NICHOLAS .PORREOA BY j ATTORNEY June 15,1948, ATALIFANO EIAL 2,443,369-

EDGE CUTTER ATTACHMENT FOR'SEWING MACHINES H Filed Mar ch 15, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEBTTORS ANTONIO ALIFANO NIOHOL M. PORREOA BYE) ATTORNEY Patented June 15, 1948 EDGE CUTTER ATTACHMENT. FGR. SEWING .,MACHIN ES Antenio' Alifano; Brooklyn and Nicholas M. *Porreca; WoodsideyNrsY.

Application March 13, 19.46, Serial No.1. 6 4,141

i1 ,This invention relates to edge. cutters for sew- .ing -machines,-.and more. particularly aims to prov.videanovel, efficient, simple. and practical edge cutter. attachment .forsev'ving.machinesgso con- ..structedand. devised .that it may readilybe at tachedhnany ordinary. sewing machine to con vert the same to..an edge cutter, and .as readily removed .to restore the. .machine .to its original ..form.

.Edge. cutter machines. which ,are complete in themselves .are. commonon the. market, but they iareuseful for,.no otherpurpose .than. edge cut- .ting. and .thereby represent an excessive invest- :ment,.. which. is. idlea .substantialpart of the time, in shopswhere .a ,large number. of sewing machines. are .used. and in addition, one. or, more edge cutter. machines. As the present invention represents anattachment which, may .be applied to or removedfrom an .ordinary sewing machine .in a fewminutes byan unskilled person, the sewing. machinev may. thus be used. as an edge cutter .for. .the timethat edge. cuttingis required and vthe rest .otthe timeit is. used as a sewingma- .ch'ine. .Thusthe. loadfactor on all .oi" .the inachines in.the shop is at a maximum.

The above broad as well as additional and more .-detailed objects. will become apparent in the following description, whereincharacters of refer- ..ence referto like-numberedv partsinthe accompanying drawing... It is to .be noted thatthe draw-av ..ing..is,..intended..so1ely .ior. the purpose of illus- ..tration,.and. that it is neither intended nor de- .sired to...limit the scope of the invention necessa'rily..to.any or all of thespecific .details of con- ..struction shown excepting insofar as they, may be.

..deemed..-essen.tial .to the invention.

....Reierring briefly to the drawing,

Fig. 1. is. a fragmentary front elevational view :of aesewing. machine. head with one .form .of the edge cutting. attachment, mounted thereon; this.

.Fig. 5 is air-agmentarv view;..0f,..the.mqdifiew 21'Glai-ms. (Cl: 16417.5)

gform of the attachment,--as seen in side. eleva- -tion,-the linkage-0f this modified-form being such'thatwhenthe-needleholder is in its maximum raised position the moveable cutter of the attachment is inits -lowermost position; .otherwise the modified form of the attachment .is substantially identical to the first-mentioned .form.

Fig; 6 is a perspective viewof the removeable collar having a rigidpinprojecting horizontally therefrom for the purpose to be described hereinafter, which-is attached to .the needle holder of the machine. ."Fig... 7- is a cross-sectional view takenon the line 'i -l 'of Fig. 2,- showing the partly cut-away feeder plate wherebythe sewing machine is adapted to utilize the attachmen'ttwithout any meral lfl indicates, fragmentarily, the. head of a sewing machine; having the. usual foot-supporting bar I landthe verticallyreciproeating needle holder or bar-12 depending-therefrom. No means or mechanism---for---operationof the machine as such nor of the needle bar-to cause-vertical reciprocation thereof, is shown assuch means and mechanism remain unalteredin the adaptation of themachineto receive-the instant attachment, and it is of coursewell known that the needle barreciprocates at aspeedwhich is under the control of-the operator.

In the'caseof both forms of the attachment, a collar l3; w-hich is preferably-split, as at it, is

attached about the needle bar IZ by means of a screw I 5 in the usual manner,-and at the-proper level as will'presently-become apparent. A rigid pin"l6 projects-fromthe collar I3, and the collar is so positioned initshorizontal plane that the pinprojects inward under-the machine frame in the same'direction asthe latter. The collar I3 may be left on; the needle'loar l2-when the attachment is removed so that the machine may be used as a sewing machine, asit does not interiere with the operationof the machine.

"The edge cutter attachment illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 4; has a vertical plate ll having a foot 18 secured-thereto through the medium of ,itsshank-IB. The ioot lS-including its shank It may be consideredas eguivalent to one-half of a standard two-toed sewing machine foot, which may. be obtained by; cutting the standard foot in 3 half on a vertical plane passed longitudinally midway of the width of the shank through the space between the toes. This single-toed foot, incidentally, may of course be manufactured as a standard integral part of the attachment.

The three-walled socket at the upper end of the shank l9, which is rectangular in crosssection, has the standard slot 2| cut into its outer wall. The standard bar H is rectangular in cross-section at its lower end 22 and is provided with a threaded lateral opening 23 therethrough or thereinto. The shank I9 is secured tothe bar II in the same manner as the standard foot, that is, by passing a screw through the slot 2| into the hole 23 and tightening the screw. In

this case it is preferred to use a screw 24 having an enlarged knurled head 25 so that it may be turned without the aid of a screw driver. Thus, the foot I8 is secured against the bar II and rigidly held in proper position, and, since the plate I! is integral with the shank of the foot, the plate I1 is likewise held fixed in the position shown.

A lever 26 is fulcrumed near its lower end on a pin or screw 21 passing through the plate H, and at its upper end the lever 26 is provided with a longitudinal slot 28 in which the pin l6 of the collar [3 registers. A second simple lever 23 is fulcrumed substantially intermediate its length on a pin or screw 30 passing through the plate I! in substantially the position shown. A link 3| having its ends pivoted in the extremities of the two levers 26 and 29, provides together with the'latter a linkage whereby the reciprocating vertical motion of the needle bar I2 is utilized to move up and down a depending cutter jaw 32 secured rigidly on the end of the lever 29 by a rivet or screw 33 or by any other means.

Secured against the same side of the plate I! under the lever 29 by means of screws or rivets 34 or in any other manner, in substantially or approximately horizontal position, is the base or root 35 of a fixed cutter jaw 36 whose inclined and beveled cutting edge 31 is shown in Figs. 2 and 4. The beveled cutting edge of the moveable cutter 32 is shown at 38 in Fig. 1. The needle of the holder I2 is shown at 39, and is adapted to pass downward through the cut-out 40 in the foot 18.

It is now apparent that as the needle holder l2 moves up and down, the moveable cutter jaw 32 will move up and down synchronously therewith and the beveled cutting edges of the cutter jaws 32 and 36 will function as a scissors to cut through the material, being fed through the machine at a short distance from the line of sewing, or stitch, whence the material will be simultaneously sewed and have its edge out off at a constant distance from the stitch. Naturally, two or more layers of fabric will be passed through the machine for the purpose of sewing them together and simultaneously cutting off the edges.

In order to prevent the fed in fabric from passing under the cutter jaw 36, or, rather, the edge of the fabric the body of which is passing under the foot, it has been found advisable to provide a dependent projection 4| on the extremity of the jaw 36. In order to accommodate this p-rojec tion as well as to provide a clearing for the moveable cutter jaw 32 in its lowermost position, it has been found desirable to alter the feed plate 42 of the machine in the following manner. This plate, which is secured to the fabric feed mechanism, not shown, in the table of the machine under the needle, by means of screws, not shown, passed through holes 43, has, as is well known,

a series, such as three, of parallel spaced walls M, 45, and 46 the spaces or slots 47 between which constitute openings through the plate 42. In the standard type of feed plate 42, the wall 35 is broken away at the middle for a distance, to provide a clearance 48 for the needle. To adapt the standard feed plate 42 to the mounting of the edge cutter attachment on the machine, a portion of the wall 43 is also broken away, but forward of the midpoint of the wall and of a length sufficient to provide a clearance space 49 in which the projection iii may register. Experience has taught that the above alteration in the feed plate 12 has no efiect whatever upon the normal feeding action of the machine when used as a simple sewing machine, without the edge cutter attachmerit.

In the modified form of the attachment shown in Fig. 5, parts which are similar or equivalent to parts of the first-described form, are indicated by the same reference numerals followed by the subscript a. The only substantial difference between the two forms is that the lever 26a is pivoted to the plate Ila at its extremity at 270., and the link 3la has one end pivoted to the lever 26a at a point spaced inward from the extremity of the lever. Both the moveable cutter jaw 32a and the fixed cutter jaw 36a are here shown in somewhat modified form or shape, which, however, they need not necessarily be, but their functioning is the same as above described. The fixed cutter 33a is also shown lacking the projection H, merely to indicate that the attachment in both forms could function without this projection although in the latter case there may always be present the danger of the dirficulty above-mentioned regarding the fabric being fed in.

It is obvious from the linkage illustrated in- Fig. 5 that as the needle holder l2 moves up and down the moveable cutter jaw 32a will move conversely, that is, down and up. With this simple and sole difference in manner of operation as an exception, the modified form of the attachment functions exactly as the form first described and ac complishes the same ends with the same efficiency.

It is apparent that the cost of either of the forms of the attachment shown and described, is insignificantly small compared with the cost of a special edge cutter machine such as those in common use today, which machine or machines, as mentioned above, are idle a substantial part of the working day in many shops. Moreover, experience with the attachment has demonstrated that the operation of simultaneously sewing and cutting the edge can be performed better and at a greater speed than is possible on the standard edge cutter machines to be found on the market. The complete separation and independence of the attachment from the machine proper and any part of the internal mechanism thereof, substantially simplifies the matter of repairs or replacement of parts.

Obviously, modifications in form and structure may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. In combination with a sewing machine having a head having a vertical foot bar and a vertically reciprocating needle bar depending from said head, an edge cutter attachment adapted to be mounted on the machine comprising a vertical plate having a cutter jaw fixed thereto and extending therefrom, said plate having a fabric guide foot rigid thereon and laterailyspaced: from said'ifixed jaw, in-substantial parallel" relationship therewith means for securing'said-foot to saidf'oot bar, a second cutter jaw pivotallymounted onsaid-plate, said needle oar havinga pin thereon e'xtending' horizontally bar imp-arts upwardmovement to said moveable jawand vice'versa.

41 A cutter attachment for a sewing machine comprising a frame having a cutter jaw thereon, said frame havingaguide foot fixed thereon and laterally spaced fromsaidfixed jaw in substantially parallel relationshiptherewith, a moveable jaw pivotally mounted on said frame in scissors-likerelationshipto said'frame jaw, said foot having means for securing-.1 the same "to the vertical foot bar of the sewing machine, a lever pivoted to said frame, a link connecting said lever with said moveabl'e jaw providing: means for imparting up and downrn ovement through an arc of said moveable jaw upon similar movement of one end of said lever, and means for attaching said end of said lever to the reciproeating needle bar of the machine for imparting said movement to said end of said lever.

5. An attachment for and adapted to be used in combination with a sewing machine having a vertical foot bar and a reciprocating needle bar depending from the head of the machine, comprising a substantially upright frame having a guide foot secured to one side of the forward edge thereof and having a fixed cutter jaw secured to the other side of said frame and extending forward thereof in spaced substantially parallel relationship with respect to said foot, means for securing said foot to said foot bar, a moveablecutter jaw pivotally mounted on said frame in scissors-like relationship with said fixed jaw, said needle bar having a horizontal pin secured thereto, and means connecting said moveable jaw with said pin for imparting scissorslike movement of said moveable jaw with respect to said fixed jaw upon reciprocating movement of said needle bar.

6. The device set forth in claim 5, said fixed jaw having a projection on the underside thereof extending to a level below the level of the underside of said fixed jaw.

'7. The device set forth in claim 5, said means comprising a lever pivoted adjacent one end to said frame and having a longitudinal slot in the other end thereof, said pin registering in said slot, and a link joining said lever and said moveable jaw.

8. The device set forth in claim 1, said linkage comprising a lever pivoted adjacent one end to i 6 catingneedlbar depending fromthe head-thereof; an edgecutter-including a guide foot secured to thef'oot bar and a scissors mounted substantially vertically and laterally spaced from said foot in substantially parallel" relationshiptherewith; and means "partly onsaid needle bar and partl-y on sa'id scissors for imparting scissors cutti'n'gaction to said scissors during reciprocation of needle-bar depending from the head thereof, an

edge lcutter comprisingan upright frame having a=-guidefoot on the forward end thereof, means for securing said footto said foot bar, a fixed cutter jaw secured to saidframe adjacent said foot in spacedsubstantially parallel relationship with respect to said: foot, a lever pivotally mounted on said frame above said fixed jaw and having a cutter jaw thereon juxtaposed. in scissors-like position with relation to said fixed jaw, said needle bar having a horizontal pin mounted thereon, and means connecting said pin with said lever for imparting reciprocating movement through an arc to said lever upon reciprocation of said needle bar thereby imparting scissors-like action of said last-named jaw with respect to said fixed jaw.

12. The combination set forth in claim 11, said means comprising a second lever having a slot in one end thereof, said pin registering in said slot, the other end of said second lever being pivoted to said frame, and a link joining said levers.

13. The combination set forth in claim 11, the pivotal mounting of said lever being positioned ntermediate the length of the lever, said means comprising a second lever having a slot in one end thereof, said pin registering in said slot, the other end of said second lever being pivoted to said frame, and a link having one end pivoted to the end of said first lever and the other end pivoted to said second lever adjacent but spaced from said other end of said second lever.

14. The combination set forth in claim 11, the pivotal mounting of said lever being positioned intermediate the length of the lever, said means comprising a second lever having a slot in one end thereof, said pin registering in said slot, a link having one end pivoted to the end of said first lever and the other end thereof pivoted to the other end of said second lever, said second lever being pivoted to said frame at a point adjacent but spaced from said other end of said second lever.

15. The combination set forth in claim 11, said fixed jaw having a downward projection on the end thereof projecting below the lower level of said frame to prevent the fabric being fed into the machine from riding under said fixed jaw.

16. The combination set forth in claim 1, said pin having releasable means securing the same to said needle bar whereby the vertical level of securement of said pin to the needle bar may be varied.

17. In combination with a sewing machine a head having a vertical foot bar and a vertically reciprocating needle bar depending from said head, an edge cutter attachment adapted to be mounted on the machine comprising a. frame having a cutter jaw fixed thereto and extending therefrom, said fixed jaw having a downward projection thereonto prevent fabric being fed into the machine from riding under said fixed jaw, means for securing said frame to said foot bar, a second cutter jaw pivotally mounted on said frame, said needle bar having a pin thereon extending horizontally therefrom, and a linkage connecting said movable jaw with said pin whereby reciprocal movement of said needle bar imparts a scissors-like action to said movable jaw with respect to said fixed jaw.

18. A cutter attachment for a sewing machine comprising a frame having a cutter jaw thereon, a movable jaw pivotally mounted on said frame in scissors-like relationship to said frame jaw, said frame having means for securing the same to the vertical foot bar of the sewing machine, said frame being adapted to be positioned on said foot bar at a level such that when said foot bar is in its uppermost position said frame jaw leaves a clearance space between the lower edge thereof and the table of'the machine, and means closing said clearance space at the forward end pfsaid frame jaw to prevent fabric being fed into the machine from riding under said frame jaw, and means connecting said movable jaw to the reciprocating needle bar of the machine whereby reciprocatingvmovement of said needle bar imparts scissors-like movement to said movable jaw.

19. The device set forth in claim 18, said clearance closing means comprising a downward projection rigid with said frame jaw at the forward end thereof.

20. The combination set forth in claim 9, the lower jaw of said scissors having a downward projection at the forward end thereof adapted to prevent fabric being fed into the machine from riding under said lower jaw.

21. The combination set forth in claim 11, said pin having a clamp rigid with one end thereof, said clamp having said needle bar registering slidably between the jaws of the clamp, and releasable means for tightening said jaws about said needle bar thereby mounting said pin on said needle bar.

ANTONIO ALIFANO. NICHOLAS M. PO-RRECA.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Stroop Feb. 6, 1877 Number 

